March 01, 2012

Creating European Rustic

"Click on photo's to enlarge details"

My latest thrift shop find, I have been painting and building this past week.

“The richness I achieve comes from recycling, the source of my inspiration.” A distinctive characteristic of my home embraces pieces that have been created from salvaged scraps of wood or collected pieces that have evolved over time creatively. A key to decorating a room with recycled or salvaged pieces is to keep them from competing with one another letting each piece speak for itself with a language the room understands. When picking the right recycled piece for a room I let the lines of the piece, it’s age, and rustic European feel tell me how it wants to be painted adding a paint treatment it deserves giving each piece no reason to argue with one another. It's European rustic rooms like these that inspire creating rustic country.I like to think when I make a purchase in a piece for my home that’s old and rustic that there are no other options in creating perfect imperfections unique and necessary.

With a little resourcefulness I can share another great find in my home with a piece that adds to creating an idyllic French flea market style home that touches the edges of my heart soulfully. This sideboard (5 foot long 31" inches in height) was a piece that called out to me at my local thrift last week; it was covered in scratches and dated itself with an old dark stain finish. The sideboard chest tag read $22.00 dollars having to then take a double take questioning did I read this right, was it $22.00 dollars or $122.00 dollars? Placing my hands on the piece to assure my claim that clearly read $22.00 dollars I then took notice of the name inside the sideboard chest marked Century from the Century Furniture Company. As an interior designer and familiar with the Century name where the best is produce in Hickory North Carolina that Century name spoke volumes, and with a gasp I knew I had a piece to love. I stripped off its old scratched up dark stained finish and gave it a French paint treatment adding a European flea market appeal to it, a perfect patina for my home. After researching the piece by sending off photo's and logo name with serial numbers I was able to find out what a beautiful rustic find this piece added to my home. This sideboard chest came from the Coventry group (Spring 1967 - Fall 1969) 17th and 18th Century English reproductions. African Mahogany solids an exotic wood and very expensive mixed with Cherry and Pecan. If replaced now I would be looking at a price tag in the upward amount of $2,800 - $3,000. Century Furniture Company offers beautiful stain grade and paint finishes on their pieces. I feel with my paint treatment of a dusky whitish grey and the up-styling of its hardware I did this piece justice in keeping with my European country home. Blending this English piece was easy with the era of 17th and 18th century French style throughout my homes collective designs making this piece a perfect blend to a rustic European cottage. It's European rustic rooms like these that inspire creating rustic country.This is proof that creating rustic country can be built from salvage wood scraps that I have salvaged from a wood pile of discarded pieces that allowed me to build a side table that would charm any French farmhouse. This side table cost me nothing to build due to the fact I was able to build it from scraped out pieces of building materials. I never over look the charm and age of pieces with nail holes and pieces that has weathered in outside climates. A little pale paint and distressing of the piece adds rustic romance to a side table French country in style. I love the conversation it makes with my guests when good things are built, not bought.Inspiring European rustic in my home. source 2 and 7 internet inspired.

Good morning beautiful Doré! OH, you know how I feel about this décor! It is just so peaceful, and this summer, some other rooms of my house will be getting the treatment. How are you my sweet? ENJOY YOUR WORLD!!! Anita

Thrift store shopping can be so exciting sometimes! I recenty saw a really cute china cabinet for around $20. All it needed was a paint job. Too bad I had no way of getting it home or a place to put it in my home. Your buffet looks so gorgeous!! You did an amazing paint job! It really looks like it belongs in a French chateau. It is also pretty great that it is a good quality piece of furniture. Such a great find!

G'day my dear friend~What an amazing find for 22.00, it has great style and you have an eye to choose the the most fabulous pieces.Great bones is all you need and it's so hard to find really good furniture these days that don't cost you $$$$.I am in need of some new furniture pieces for my empty room soon to be my studio room.So excited to have an area, though I miss my Girl so much.I am enjoying an empty room to create in.I know I can't afford to much so a great find like yours would be awesome.Though even our goodwills are more than 22.00 you must have a great thrift store.I so love the creaminess of the white and grays together.My fav!Happy Friday Enjoy your weekend~Cheers Kim xox

OK, that photo of that room - that is what I love. I love the white and clean look but I HAVE to have my color and that blue door and topiary are the perfect additions!!!How inspiring!Thank you! I needed that with the mid-winter blahs.Love,AngelaParisienneFarmgirl

OK, that photo of that room - that is what I love. I love the white and clean look but I HAVE to have my color and that blue door and topiary are the perfect additions!!!How inspiring!Thank you! I needed that with the mid-winter blahs.Love,AngelaParisienneFarmgirl

You have been working hard. This piece is another beauty of your craftmanship. I am always in awe at what you do Dore. I am glad to know you are keeping this piece for your own home. It truly is authentic in loveliness. I am plum tuckered out after spending the entire day at Kaiser yesterday with my daughter Holly. The Dr. thinks she has a kidney infection. She has been in severe pain for two days with fever. She is home now with antibiotics, motrin and sleeping. We wait to hear the results of her CT scan. Please say a prayer for her. ox

Hi DoreYour words today melted my heart!I am truly honored that you are now following along.. and thank you so much for your encouraging words about Jemima the donkey.This was my first attempt at a donkey.. The REAL Jemima lives with Jeri, over at Hopalong Hollow.Her link is on my post.. If you have a chance, go take a look at the restoration Jeri and her husband have done... ahhhh..and you will see the real Jemima on her side bar. Yes! I think you should try needle felting.. I really love it. It is time consuming, but worth it.. I have always admired the beauty you bring into the world with your pieces... and I LOVE your Theatres!BISOUS!Penny

You are now official the Thrift Queen - you go girl! Where or where do you go thrifting? I know - First rule of Thrifting Club is we don't talk about thrifting locations! Gorgeous! Hope you have a marvelous weekend! - Jalon

Again, such divine inspiration here chez toi, because of the LOVE you have for the work that you put into each piece. THANK YOU for your kind words and comments and YES, I will try to take some pictures of my home but these days I am so busy with school! I do want to show you my new chair which I AM LOVING SO, in my gray/white room. I am going to paint my French doors gray as well and that is going to really make this room PERFECT!

Dore, Good eye you have! It looks beautiful and for that kind of money you can't go wrong. Beats buying junk or made in China furniture. You'll have that piece for years. Timeless:) Have a great weekend,xxx Liz

Love to find treasures too....take something old and make it new or just re-introduce an old piece in a new way!thanks for the great pix..Nancycome for a visit wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com and the store WildOakDesigns.etsy.com

So beautiful, Dore! I am going for an eclectic look in our tiny cottage - a mix of grand & rustic. I like to think of it as a French gardener's carriage house. :)Love all the inspiration and beauty you share, my friend!Wishing you a lovely week,Zuzu

Hello Dore! I know...I have been a stranger. Life has been so hectic and blogger, unfortunately, had to be put aside for me for a while. I wanted to let you know that I still checked in when I could to see your gorgeous images and creations. The miniature operas are pure divine! Your blog is a wonderland of total bliss and inspiration. Love everything you do! Jacqueline xx

Hi Dore,Oh, how gorgeous, and for such a great price! I can't tell you how many times I've passed on these pieces simply because I didn't know what to do with them. Thanks so much for sharing and providing inspiration for the rest of us.I hope all is well with you.Big hugs,Patti

What a beautiful job you did. You have exquisite taste. Thank you for linking up to the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop linky party. Hugs and wishes for a lovely week ahead. P.S. The new giveaway has started!

YOU ALSO DO RENOVATIONS ON HOMES????? I never ever knew that! I am so glad to hear that you are busy with your business and spreading your lovely style EVERYWHERE!

Oh my dear, I have been so busy today. I was off of work but I prepared and finished many sold items from my Etsy shop! I am so excited. Blogging has enabled me to meet so many lovely people like you who inspire and empower and I would have never thought I would be doing what I am doing now. I wish you SO MUCH SUCCESS and fulfillment in what you are doing right now. Do you know that I still have not taken a picture of my chair????? I will soon, but I am going to use it as a BEFORE PICTURE for my studio. This spring break, I am going to paint my studio white with gray trim!!!!!!!

Anita,As an interior designer I will remodel homes as well, the one I am working on right now is just that, I am having the contractor tear down a wall that divides the kitchen from the front room, also removing shelving to then get started on the homes designs in interior designs. send pictures soon.xxDore

I'm excited to share with you. That I've been experimenting with fabric dye on burlap. ohmygoosh!!! wait until you see what I've come up with!!! The perfect shade of dove grey. I will send over some images soon.

I think you nailed it...the challenge in decorating is to have the things we love...that work together (not compete)...and yet be their own...your piece is beautiful...and the price?! That's pretty sweet, too!Rene'

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About Me

I am French and Irish born in Southern California, yet spent a great number of years in the bay area of Northern California. When I moved back to the Southern part in 1986-87 I was on the brink of a new life. I have two children, a son Travis, and a daughter Hannah who have a beauty in expressing who they are. I am in the field of interior design, interior designer and home stager in decorating estate model homes residential, and commercial designs.
A design shop in the bay area co-opted with my mother was the strongest influence in the start of it all. Artist in fine art. My favorite time of any day is making time to create. I love to recycle and reimage found objects that then find their way into the hands and homes of a new place to rest.